Pilgrimage, Book 8 · Chapter 2
CHAP. II.
Of the first knowledge, habitation, and discoueries of the New world, and the rare Creatures therein found, Beasts, Birds Trees, Hearbs, and Seeds.
AFter these generall Discourses of the Americans, some other of like nature I hold not vnmeete to be handled, before wee come to the particular Regions: and first of the men, whether the Ancients had any knowledge of them: how men first came into these parts, and of the first discoueries in the former Age. Concerning the first knowledge of these parts, it may iustly be a question whether the Ancients euer heard thereof. For to say nothing of that opinion, that the torrid Zone was not habitable in the opinion of the most, as wee hauehave shewed in the former Chapter: the allegations aHums.Gilbert Discou…. O tel. Theat. in charta.N.O.bis Hak in Epist Ded. to.1.…to.3are not such as can force vsus to beleeue that, whereto by great Authours they are alledged, Senceas bSen.biedea. Act.2.Prophecie is little to the purpose: New-worlds (saith he) shall be in the last Ages discouered, and Thule Thule is by Mercaro… and others interpreted Island: by Ostdius Tilemarke in Norway.shall not bee any longer the furthest of N…tions. But all that Chorus seemes to a diligent Reader to in: end nothing else, then to describe the vsuall affects, and effects of shipping and Nauigation; agreeing to that Argo-Argument of the Tragedie, wherein Iason in that famous Argo sailing to Col…so, had obtained Medea's louelove, which he vnkindly required. And had the Poet intended these. Westerne Discoueries, he would neuer hauehave said
Nec sit terris Vltima Thule: but
Nec sit tellus Vltima Gades,
as Boterus cBotero parte 1.l.4.obserued. For the American Discoueries hauehave not beene by the way of Iseland, and Northward, but Southwestward: and this appeareth by the Verses before,
Nunc tam cessit Pontus & omnes,
Pat itur leges.—
Qualibet altum cymba pererrat:
Nilqua fuer at, sede, reliquit
Perui…s orbis, Indus gelidum
Potat Araxem, Albin Persae
Rhenum que bibunt; venient annis
Secula seris, quibus Oceanus
Vinc…la rerum laxet,
As for Plato's dPlatos discoursehere of is Englished by R. Eden in the Preamble of the Decads.Atlantis, and Tertullians eTertul. de Tall o.& i… Apologet.Aeon borrowed of him. Acosta fAcost.l. 1 c.22.alledgeth diuers Platonikes, Proclus, Porphyrie, and Origen, which interpret Plato gPlatar. de facie in orbe Lune.alter a my: …all sense; and proueth by the words of Plato himselfe, that they can be no true Historie. Out of Platarch & other Histories of the Carthaginian, Phaenician, and Tyrrneman Nauigations they hauehave coniectures, but very vncertaine, & obscure: & those things, which Diodorus hDiod.Sic.l.5.c.7. Arist de admirandis auditionibus.reports of that Iland, agree nothing to the New-world which had not attained to that ciuilitie he there mentioneth, before the Spaniards arriuall. And by his discourse it seemes rather to be some of the Ilands of Africa, then America, if the Historie bee true Neither iOrtel. in Charta.6.could such long voyages so farre off from any land bee performed without the helpe of the Compasse, which was first found thirteene hundred yeares after Christ, by Iobn Goia of Melsi, according to that Verse of Panormitan. kAntonius Panorm.Prima dedit nastis vsum Magnetis lAmalphis in Lucania in the kingdome of Naples.Amalphis. Gomara mF. Gom.hist.gen.c.9.citeth Blondus, and Maffaus, G…ardus, witnesses of this Melfian inuention, saue that hee calles him not Iohn, as Ortelius doth, but Flauius di Malphi. And in the tempestes, which happened among the ancients, nAct.27.20. Virg. Aeacid.1. Scncca vbisupiait seemes that for want of this skill, they wandered verie vncertaine, but as the Sunne or Starres, by returne of their desired light, after the tempests ended, directed them. Yet I will not say, but that in those times of olde, some Ships might come sometime by casualtie into those parts, oOf the supposed former Dis. oueries of the New world, read Ortel.7 beat. Charta.6.but rather forced by weather, then directed by skill; and thus it is likely that some parts of America hauehave beene peopled. This I much doubt; whether their Science in Nauigation was such, as that they would voluntarily aduenture, and could happily effect, this voyage to and from the West Indies. The most probable Historie in this kinde is (in my minde) that of pD. Powell historie of Cambria pag.22; A.D. 1 170.Madoc ap Owen Gwyneth, who by reason of ciuill contentions, left his Countrie of Wales, seeking aduentures by Sea, and leauing the coast of Ireland North, came to a land vnknowne, where hee saw many strange things.
This by D. Powell, and Mr. Humfrey Floyd, is thought to bee the Continent of the new world, confirmed here in by the speech of Muteaeuma, professing his progenitors to be strangers; and so were al the Mexicanes to those parts, as the Historie in the eighth Chapter following will shew: and by the vse of certaine Welsh words which qDan.lngram Ha….edit.1.to.3. Mereditih ap Rise & Gutyn Owen make mention of this Owens Nauigation. See Hak to 3.pag 1.Danid Ingram obserued in his trauell through those parts. The Historie addeth that hee left certaine of his people there, and comming home for more people, returned thither with ten saile. Howsoeuer, it is certaine that the prints of this Brittish expedition are in manner worne out, and no signe thereof was found by the Spaniards: OnelyOnly rA.S. Andrews crosse in Cumana. A crosse ten foote long to which they prayed in Acusamil for raine. Gomar. hist. of Cortes. parte 1. & gen.hist.part. 2.c.82they vsed a Crosse in Cumaha: in the Iland of Acuzamil, the same was worshipped: but without any memory of Christ, or any thing fauouring that way: and might as well be there without any Christians erecting, as those Crosses vvhichwhich in the former booke wee hauehave shewed, were in the Temple of Serapis, at Alexandria. As for Mutezuma beeing a stranger, it might bee so, and yet his progenitours of some other parts of America. And the words of Welsh are *3.or 4.words.very few, which, as it happens in any other language, might by some chance come to passe. But if any bee desirous to beleeue, that this Madoc peopled the Continent or Iland of America, rather then the Terceras, or some of the African Ilands, I will not hinder: nor will I runne too much out of compasse, in pleading for the Compasse, as which onelyonly can direct in such spacious Seas. Yet of this opinion is that learned and iudicious Authour, Iosephus Acosta, who diligently discussing this question, How men passed first to the Indies; largely, and learnedly contendeth, that they came not thither purposely, if they came by Sea, but by distresse of weather; and yet findes no lesse difficultie, (that way) in the transporting beastes; especially wilde, and vnprofitable beastes, which it is not like any would take into Ship with them, much lesse conuay them ouer so huge an Ocean. At last he concludeth, that although some might arriue there by ship-wracke, and tempest of weather, yet is it most likely that the first inhabitants (descended of Adam and Noah, of which one sAct.17.26.bloud God hath made all mankinde, to dwell on all the face of the Earth, and hath assigned the bounds of their habitation) passed thither by some place where the Continent of our world ioineth with America: or the Ilands thereof, are found fit mediatours for this passage, beeing not farre distant from the land. tOrtchus in his map of mare Pacificum, af. firmeth that the people ofAmerica in likelihood were peopled from Europe by Gronland Ifland, Fri fland, &.And this on the North parts of the world, (where they place that strait of Anian, not yet certainely discouered) may bee so: besides that, on the South, men might passe from the coasts of Malacca to Iaua, and so to the South Continent, and from thence by the Magellane streights into America. Gronland is thought also, by some, to be the same Continent with Estotiland on the North. Some Negro's by force of tempest, it is probable, hauehave passed hither, because in Careca some hauehave beene found, betweene S. Martha, and Cartagena. Of whom Iohn uIo di Castellanos.di Castellanos writeth.
Son todos ellos Negros come cueruos, &c. they are all (saith hee) as blacke as Rauens. And of this minde is Botero. xDu Bartas Colonies. Morney. deverit. Christ. Relig. Botero vbi sup.and those French Worthies, Du Bartas, and Philip Morney. It is not likely that the beasts could otherwise passe, but by the Continent, or by Ilands not farre off from the Continent, or from one another. Here also ariseth another question, how these beastes could passe from the parts of the knowne world, where none such are knowne: to which it may be answered, That GOD hath appointed to eueryevery Creature his peculiar nature, and a naturall instinct, to liue in places most agreeing to his nature: as euen in our world, Nonomnis fert omnia tellus: EueryEvery Countrey hath not all Creatures: the Elephant, Rhinoceros, Riuer-Horse, Crocodile, Camell, Camelopardalis, and others, are not ordinarily, and naturally in Europe: nor the Zebra in Asia or Europe: and the like may bee said of many other Creatures.
Now, as in the Arke it selfe, (the Cradle of man, and stall of bests,) wee must not onelyonly obserue Nature and Art, for the making and mannaging thereof, but a higher and more powerfull hand: euen so in dispensing the Creatures which came from thence, they chole places by their owne naturall instinct, and man disposed, by his industry, according as he had vse of them; but most of all, the secret and mighty prouidence of God co-working in those works of Nature and Industry, and (in likelihood) infusing some more speciall & extraordinary instinct in that replenishing & refurnishing of the world, yAct. 7.26.Assigning their seasons and bounds of habitation, hath thus diuersified his works, according to the diuersities of places, and sorted out to each Country their peculiar creatures. As for the comming by shippe, it is for the beasts improbable, for the men (by any great numbers, or of any set purpose) vnlikely, seeing in all America they had no shipping, but their Canoes. The beasts also hauehave not beene found in the Ilands, which are in the Continent. And if any hereunto will adde a supposition, that there might be some Ilands or Parts of the Continent in times past, which is now swallowed by the mercilesse Ocean, so that then there might bee a way, which now is bu…ied in the waues: (as some zSir Humphrie Gilberts Discouerie of the North-west.suppose) of Plato's Atlantis, placed at the mouth of the Streits, or Hercules Pillars, which yet they would hauehave to bee America, and some aR. Vers…egans Antiquities.of the Sea betwixt Douer and Callais, once one firme Land (as they doe imagine) I list not to contradict them.bF.G. histor. gener.parte …. ca.13.
As for the Indians owne report of their beginnings, which some ascribe to a fountaine, others to a Lake, others to a Caue, or what other opinion they conceiue thereof, wee shall more fitly obserue in their proper places, discoursing of their Religions and Opinions: Now for the first certaine Discouerie of this New World, the World generally ascribeth it to Columbus, and worthily: but Columbus himselfe is sayd to hauehave receiued his instructions from another.
This Historie is thus related by Gomara: A certaine Carauell, sayling in the Ocean, by a strong East winde long continuing, was carried to a Land vnknowne, which was not expressed in the Mappes and Cardes. It was much longer in returning, then in going; and arriuing, had none left aliue but the Pilot, and three or foure mariners, the rest being dead of famine and other extremities; of which also the remnant perished in few dayes, leauing to cColumbus was borne at Cugurco, or (as some say) at Nervi in the territory of Genua: he was a mariner frō a childe, and traded into Syria, and other parts of the East. After this he becam a master in making sea-cards: hee went to Portugall, to learn their nauigations on the coast of Africa, and there married. Gom. ca.14. R. Eden:Columbus (then the Pilots host) their Papers, and some grounds of this Discouerie. The time, place, countrey, and name of the man is vncertaine: Some esteeme this Pilote an Andaluzian, and that hee traded at Maders, when this befell him: some, a Biscaine, and that his traffike was in England and France; and some, a Portugall, that traded at the Mina: some say he arriued in Portugall; others at Madera, or at one of the Azores: all agree that he died in the house of Christopher Columbus. It is most likely at Madera. This relation of Gomara (as it hath no witnesses to prooue it, the whole company being dead; nor any good circumstances, so) Benzo dHier. Benzo lib.1.ca.5.plainely affirmeth it to be a fable, and a Spanish tricke, enuying a foreiner and Italian that glory to be the first finder of the Indies. Hee citeth out of Peter Martyr an other cause that moued Columbus to this Discouerie, and not that Pilotes Papers or Reports eGaspar E…t libr. 1.ca.2. coniectureth, that Columbus (moued with his owne coniectures to this discouery) was confirmed further therein by this Pilote, which is said to die in his house.. For, hee being a mariner, vsed to the Sea from his youth, and sayling from Cales to Portugall, obserued, that at certaine seasons of the yeare, the Windes vsed to blowe from the West, whch continewed in that manner a long time together. And deeming that they came from some coast beyond the Sea, hee busied his minde so much heer with, that hee resolued to make some triall and proofe thereof. When he was now forty yeres old, he propounded his purpose to the Senate of Genua, vndertaking, if they would lend him shippes, hee would find a way by the west vntounto the Ilands lands of Spices. But they reiected it as a Dreame.
Columbus frustrate of his hopes at Genua, yet leaues not his resolution, but goeth to Portugall, and communicates this matter with Alphonsus King of Portugall: but finding no entertainement to his suites, sen …eth his brother Bartholomsew Columbus to King Henrie the seuenth of England, to solicite him in the matter, whiles himselfe passed into Spaine, to implore the aide of the Castilians herein.
Bartholomew fF…rnand Colamb-…n vita patris Christopho.i.cap.13.Hack. tom.3.vnhappily lighted on Pirats by the way, which robbing him and his company, lorced him to s…laine himselfe with making of Sea-Cardes. And hauing gotten some what about him, presents a Mappe of the World to King Henrie, with his brothers offer o…: Discouerie: which the King gladly accepted, and lent to call him into England. But he had sped of his suite before in Spaine, and by the King and Queene was employed according to his request. For comming gGomara c.15from Lisbone to Palos di Moguer, and there conferring with Martin Alonso Pinzon, an expert Pilote, and Frier Io.Perez a good Cosinographer, he was counselled to acquaint with these his proiects, the Dukes of Medma Sidoma, and of Medina Caeli: which yeelding him no credit, the F…ier counseiled him to goe to the Court, and wrote in his behalfe to F…er Fernand di Telavera the Queenes Confessor,.Christopher Columbus came to the Court of Castile, An.1486, and found cold welcome to his s…te, at the hands of the King and Queene then busied with hote warres in Granada, whence they expelled the Moores. And thus remained he in contempt, as a man meanly clothed, without other Patrou then a poore F…er, saue that Alonso di Quintaniglia gaue him his diet, who also at last procured him audience with the Archbishop of Toledo, by whose mediation hee was brought before the King and Queene, who gaue him fauourable countenance, and promised to dispatch him, when they had ended the warres of Granada, which also they performed. Thus Columbus is set forth with three Caruells at the Kings charges, who because his treasure was then spent in the warres, borrowed sixeteene thousand ducats of Lewes de Sanct' Angelo: and on friday the third day of August, in the yeere of our Lord 1492. set saile for Gomera, one of the Canarie Iland, and hauing there refreshed himselfe, followed his Discouerie. After many dayes hee incountred with that herby Sea (whereof before wee hauehave hLibr. 7.c vlt.spoken) which not a little amated and amazed the Spaniards, and had caused their iPct.…. dec.… Ireturne, had not the sight of some Birds promised him land not fa…e off.
But the Spaui…rds, after three and thirtie dayes sayling, desperate of successe, mutined. and threatned to call Columbus into the Sea: kA Beazo l.ibr.1.ca.6.disdaining much, that a stranger, a Ge…uo…s had so abused them. But he pacifying their enraged courages with milde speaches, and gentle promises, on the eleuenth day of October lGaspar.Ens li.1.ca.2.one Roderigo di Triana …: spied and cried, Land, Land; the best musicke that might be, especially to Columbus, who to sa…i, fie the Spaniards importunity, had promised the day before, that if no land appeared in three days, he would returne. mColumbi Nauigationes 1,2,3,4.One, the night before, had descried Fire, which kindled in him some hope of great reward at the Kings hand, when hee returned into Spaine, but being herein frustrate, he burnt into such a flame, as that it consumed both Humanitie and Christianitie in him, and in the agonie of Indignation made him ieau… his Countrey, and …aith, and reuolt to the Moores. B…t thee, Columbus, how can I but remember? but louelove? but admire? Sweetly may those bones rest, sometimes the Pillars of that Temple, where so diuine a Spirite resided; which neyther want of former example, nor publike discouragements of domesticall and forren states, nor priuate insultations of prowd Spaniards, nor length of time (which vsually deuoureth the best resolutions) nor the vnequall Plaines of huge vnknowne Seas, nor grassie fields in Neptunes lappe, nor importunate whisperings, murmurings, threatnings of …uraged companions, could daunt: O name Colon nHis true name was Colon, which corruptly is called Columbus,, worthy to bee named vntounto the worlds end, which to the worlds end hast conducted Colonies; or may I call thee Colombo for thy Doue-like simplicitie and patience? the tru. Colouna or Pillar, whereon our knowledge of this new world is founded, the true Christopher, which with more then Giant-like force and fortitude hast carried Christ his name and Religion, through vnknowne Seas, to vnknowne lands: which wee hope and pray, that it may be more refined, and reformed, then Popish superstition, and Spanish pride will yet suffer. Now let the Ancients no longer mention Neptune, or Mines, or Erythras, or Danaus, to all which, diuers Authors diuersly ascribe the invention of Navigation; Mysians, Troyans, Tyrians vaile your bonnets, strike your toppe-sailes to this Indian-Admirall, that deserveth the top-saile indeede, by aspiring to the top that Sayling could aime at, in discouering an other World. Let Spaniards, French, English, and Dutch resound thy name, or his name rather, *Prouerb.30.4whose name, who can tell? that would acquaint thee and the world by thee, with newes of a New World. But lest we drowne our selues in this Sea of Extasie and Admiration, let vsus go on shore with Columbus in his new discouered Iland. And first me thinkes I see the Spaniards, yesterday in mutiny, now as farre distracted in contrary passions; some gazing with greedie eies on the desired Land; some with teares of iny, not able to see that, which the ioy of seeing made them not to see: others embracing, and almost adoring Columbus, who brought them to that sight: some also with secret repinings enuying that glorie to a stranger; but biting in their biting envie, and making shew of glee and gladnesse: all new awaked out of a long trance, into which that stepmother Ocean, with dangers, doubts, dreads, despaires had deiected them, revived now by the sight of their Mother Earth, from whome in vnknowne armes they had beene so long weaned and detained. On shore they goe, and felling a tree, make a Crosse thereof, which they erected on the shore, and take possession of that New World in the name of the Catholike Kings. What worldly ioy is not mixed with some disastre? their Admirall heere splitteth on a rocke, but the men are saued by the help of the other shippes. This fell out in the North part of Hispaniola (so named by them, and by the Inhabitants called Haytin) where they had first sight of Inhabitants, which seeing these strangers, ranne all away into the mountaines. One woman the Spaniards got, whom they vsed kindely, and gaue her meat, drinke, and clothes, and so let her goe. She declaring to her people the liberalitie of this new people, easily perswaded them to come in troupes to the shippes, thinking the Spaniards to be some diuine Nation, sent thither from Heauen. They had before taken them for the Caribes, which are certaine Caniballs, which vsed inhumane huntings for humane game, to take men for to eate them: Children likewise, which they gelded to hauehave them more fatte, and then to deuoure them: the women they are not, but vsed them for procreation, and if they were old, for other seruices. The Ilanders had no other defence against them but the wooddy hilles, and swiftest heeles: to which they betooke them at the Spaniards arriuall, thinking them (as is said) to be Caniballs. And such hauehave they since proued, in effect, qBart.del…s Casas, Hispan. crudeht.not leauing of 3 milions of people which here they found, 200:& that long since.
The Deuill had forewarned them of this by Oracle rHistorie of China pa 312. H. Benzo. l.t.c.8, that a bearded Nation should spoile their Images, and spill the bloud of their children, as we shall see in the particular Tractate of Hispaniola. Nothing more pleased the Spaniards, then the golde, which the naked Inhabitants exchanged with them, for bells, glasses, points, and other trifles. Columbus obtained leaue of Guacanarillus, the Cacike or King, to build a fort sThe fort of The Natiuitie in Hispaniola., in which he left eight and thirtie Spaniards, and taking with him six Indians, returned to Spaine, where he was …ly welcomed of the King and Queene. The Pope tAlexander a wicked Pope. Guicciard.lib. I. & he of whose daughter Lucretia Pontanus writeth, that she was Alexandri Filia, Sponsa, Nuru… abused by the incestuous lusts of the father and his two sonnes, was Author of the Bull, whereby the Spaniards chalenge the new World for theirs.(then a Spaniard, Alexander the …ring of this, diuided the World, by his Bull, betwixt the Portugals and Spaniards. The Bull is become an Vnicorne, & his two horns are now growne into one: in the vniting of the two states. Columbus, graced with the title of Admirall, and enriched with the tenths of the Spanish gaines in the Indies, is sent a second time, with his brother Bartholomew, who was made Adelant ado or Deputy of Hispaniola. They had allowed them for this Expedition, small and great, seuenteen saile. The first Iland he espied in his second nauigation, hee called Desseada or Desired, because hee had longed to see land. Arriuing in Hispaniola, hee found the Spaniards which hee had left there, that they were now not left, nor any where to be found. The Indians had murdred them & laid the blame on the Spanish insolencies. He then discouered Cuba & Iamaica, with the neighbor-isles. Returning to Hispaniola, he found his brother & the Spaniards in dissention and separation, and punishing the Authors of sedition, returned home. In the yeere of our Lord, one thousand foure hundred ninety seuen, hee made his third voyage, and then touched on the Continent; discouered Cubagua, Pauia, and Cumans.
But Koldanus Ximenius raising a rebellion, and accusing the Columbi to the King, effected that Bovadilla was sent Gouernor into Hispaniola, who sent the two brethren bound as prisoners to Spaine: vnworthy recompence of the worthy attempts of these Worthies. The King sreeth them, and employeth Christopher in a fourth voyage, 1502: in which Ovandus the Gouernour forbade Columbus the first finder to land on Hispaniola. uGasp.En… lib. 1.ca.5.He then discouered Guanaxa, Higuera, Fondura, Veragua, Vraba, and learned newes (as some say) of the South Sea. He staied at Iamaica to repaire his fleet, where some of his men were sicke, and they which were sound in bodie, were more then sicke, f…oward and … in behauiour, and many left him. VponUpon this occasion the Ilanders also for sooke him, and brought in no victuall. Herewith Columbus, neither able to abide, nor depart, was driuen to his shifts, no lesse admirable for suttletie then resolution. xVide libr. 5. ca.16.pag 452.He told the Ilanders, that if they did not bring him in prouision, the Diuine Anger would consume them, a signe whereof they should see in the darkened face of the Moone within two dayes. At that time he knew the Moone would be eclipsed, which the simple Ianders seeing, with feare and griefe humbled themselues to him, and offered themselues ready to all kinde and duetifull Offices. At last, returning into Spaine, he there died, Anno 1506. His body was buried at Siuill in the Temple of the Carthusians. This was the end (if euer there can be end) of Columbus. Pinzonus yNauigationes Vine. binzoni Nau.Alb Ve'p…. Seb. Cab…. Vide Hack. to.3.one of Columbus his companions, by his example invited, made new Discouer…e… and Vespucius, and Cabota, and many other, eueryevery day making new searches and plantations, till the world at last is come to the knowledge of this New world almost wholy. The particulars will more fitly appeare in our particular relations of each countrey.
After this discourse of the men in those parts, let vsus take some generall view of the other creatures, especially such as are more generally disperst through the Indies. I hauehave before noted, that America had very few of such creatures as Europe yeeldeth, vntill they were transported thither: and therefore they hauehave no Indian names for them, zA rule to know what beasts were here naturall (or to such they hauehave names in their owne Language) and what transported: for these the Indians call by their Span. names.but those which the Spaniards that brought them, giuegive vntounto them: as horse, kine, and such like. They hauehave lions, but not like in greatnesse, fiercenesse, nor colour to those of Africa. They hauehave beares in great aboundance, except on the North parts. They hauehave store of deere, bores, foxes, and tygres, which (as in Congo) are more cruell to the Naturalls then to the Spaniards. These beasts were not found in the Ilands, but in the Continent; and yet now in those Ilands, kine are multiplied and growne wilde, without other owner then such as first can kill them: aAcost.libr.….c.21. & l 4 c.34the dogges likewise march by troups, and endamage the cattell no lesse then wolues. The lions are grey, & vse to clime trees: the Indians hunt and kill them bFrom Hispaniola were shipped Anno 1587. 35444 hide., & from new Spaine 64350.. The beares and tigres are like those in other parts but not so many. Apes and Monkies they hauehave of many kinds & those admirably pleasing in their apish tricks & imitations, seeming to proceed from Reason. A souldier leuelling at one of them to shoot him, the sily beast died not vnreuenged, but hurling a stone as the other aimed at him, depriued the souldier of his eie, and lost his owne life. They hauehave monkies with long beards. Acosta cLib.4.ca.39. See Car. Clus. de exot. & Ouied.gen. histor, & summer. G…sn.de Quadr.tells of one monky that would goe to the Taucrne at his masters sending, and carrying the pot in one hand, and mony in the other, would not by any meanes depart with his mony, till he had his pot filled with wine: and returning home, would pelt the boies with stones, and yet hauehave care to carry his wine home safe to his master, neither touching it himselfe til some were giuen him, nor suffering other. Sheep hauehave much increased, and by good husbandrie, in that plentie of pasture, would be a great commodity: but in the Ilands the wild dogs destroy them: and therefore they that kill these dogs, are rewarded for it, as they which kill wolues in Spaine. The dogs dP. Mart.de Insulis.which the Indians had before, were snowted like foxes; they fatted them to eate, and kept them also for pleasure: but they could not barke: Such dogges (we hauehave shewed) are in Congo. Their stagges eOuied.summar.22.and deere in the south parts of America, hauehave no hornes. They hauehave store of conies. The Armadilla is an admirable creature, of which there be diuers kinds: they resemble a* barded horse, seeming to be armed all ouer, and that as if it were rather by artificiall plates, opening & shutting, then naturall scales: it digges vp the earth as couics and moules.
The hogs fCataphractus equus.of the Indies hauehave their nauill vponupon the ridge of their backes. They goe in heards together, and assaile men, hauing sharp talons, like rasors, and hunt their hunters vp the …ops of trees, whence they easily kill these enraged Sainos (so they call them) biting the tree for anger. The Dantes resemble smal kine, & are defended by the hardnes of their hides. The Vicugne somewhat resembleth a goate, but is greater: they sheare them, and of their fleeces make rugges and couerings, and stufies. In the stomacke and belly of this beast is found the Bezaar-stone… somtimes one alone, sometimes, two, three, or foure: the colour of which is blacke, or grey, or greene, or otherwise: it is accounted soueraigne against poisons & venomous diseases. It is found in diue…s sorts of beasts but all chew the cud, & commonly feed vponupon the snow and rocks. The Indian sheep they cal Lama, it is a beast of great profit, not only for food and raiment, but also for carriage of burthens: they are bigger then sheep, & lesse then calues: they will beare 150.li.weight. In some places they call them Amidas, and vse them to greater burthens. Hulderike Schmidel gHul. Schmidel.ca.44. Anno Do.1548.affirms, that he living in the parts about the riuer of Plate, being hurt on his leg, rode 40 leagues vponupon one of them. They wil grow resty, & will lie down with their burthen, no stripes nor death able to asswage their moode; only good words, and faire dealing, with gentle intreaty, sometimes diuers houres together, can preuaile.
Of towles they hauehave many kinds which we hauehave, as partriges, turtles, pigeons, stockdoues, quailes, salcons, herons, eagles: and a world of Parrots, which in some places flee by flocks, as pigeons. There are also Estriges. Hens they had before the Spaniards ariued. They hauehave other kinds peculiar: The Tomin… hAug Carate. hist.Peru libr.I.is the least in quantitie, the greatest for admiration and wonder. I hauehave oft times doubted (saith Acosta) seeing them flie, whether they were Bees or Butter-flies; but in truth they are birds. Theuet iAnd.Thevet. ca.41. Lerius nav.c.11and Lerius call it Gonambuch, or Govanbuch. They affirme th…t it yeelds nothing in sweetnes of Note to the Nightingale, and yet is not bigger then a Beetle or Drone-bee: One would say, Voxes, praetereanihil: but so could not any truly say, for euen otherwise is it almost miraculous: Nature making this little shop her great store-house of wonder, and astonishment, and shewing kNatura in magnis magna, in minimis maxima.her greatest greatnes…in the least instruments. The Prouinciall of the Iesuites in Brasill, affirmeth, as Clusius lCar.Clus.Exot.libr.5.testifies, that the Brasilians called it Ourissia, which signifieth the Sun-beame, and that it was procreated of a flie; and that he had seen one, partly a bird, and partly a flie: first coloured blacke, then ash-coloured, then rosecoloured, then red: and lastly, the head set against the Sun, to resemble all colors, in most admired varietie. It flieth so swift (saith mOuiedo summar. ca.48.Ouiedo) that the wings cannot be seen. It hath a nest proportionable. I hauehave seene (saith he) one of those birds, together with her nest, put into the scales, wherein they vse to weigh gold, and both weighed but two tomin…, that is, 24 graines. Happly it is therefore calle. Tomineios, as weighing one Tomin. The feathers are beautified with yellow, green, & other colours: the mouth like the eie of a needle. It liueth on nLopes de Gomara bistor. Mexicana, or Conquest of the West Indies.deaw, and the iuice of hearbs, but sitteth not on the rose. The feathers, specially of the necke and breasts, are in great request for those feather-pictures, or portraitures, which the Indians make cunningly and artificially with these naturall feathers, placing the same in place and proportion, beyond all admiration: The Indian Battes should not flee your light, and are for their raritie worthy consideration, but that we have before spoken somewhat of them.
They hauehave oAcost.l.4.c.17birdes called Condores, of exceeding greatnesse and force, that will open a sheepe, and a whole calfe, and eate the same. They hauehave aboundance of birds, in beautie of their feathers farre surpassing all in Europe, wherewith the skilfull Indians will perfectly represent in feathers, whatsoeuer they see drawne with the Pensill. A figure of Saint Francis, made of feathers, was presented to Pope Sixtus Quintus, whose eie could not discerne them to be naturall colours, but thought them pencill-worke, til he made triall with his fingers. The Indians vsed them for the ornaments of their Kings and Temples. Some birds there are of rich commoditie, onelyonly by their dung. In some Ilands ioyning to Peru, the mountaines are all white, like snowe, which is nothing but heapes of dung of certaine Sea-fowle which frequent those places. It riseth many elles, yea many launces in height, and is fetched thence in boates, to hearten the earth, which hereby is exceeding fertile.
To adde somewhat of the Indian Plants, and Trees. pSee Monardus & Clusius. D. Lobel Gerard and other Herba. …sts.Mangle is the name of a tree, which multiplieth it selfe into a wood (as before we hauehave obserued of it) the branches descending and taking roote in the earth. The Plane tree of India hath leaues sufficient to couer a man from the foote to the head: but these, the Coco, and other Indian trees, are in the East Indies also, and there wee hauehave mentioned them. Caecaeo is a fruit little lesse their Almonds, which the Indians vse for money, and make thereof a drinke, holden amongst them in high regarde. They hauehave a kinde of Apples qTh. Turner.called Ananas, exceeding pleasant in colour and taste, and very wholesome, which yet hauehave force to eate yron, like aqua fortis. The rAcosta libr. 4.ca.24.Mamayes, Guayaues and Paltos bee the Indian Peaches, Apples, and Peares. But it would be a wearie wildernesse to the Reader, to bring him into such an Indian Orchard, where hee might reade of such varietie of Fruits, but (like Tantalus) can taste none: or to present you with a garden of their trees, which beare flowers without other fruit, as the Floripondio, which all the yeare long beareth flowers, sweet, like a Lillie, but greater: the Volosuch…l, which beareth a flower like to the forme of the heart, and others, which I omit: The flower of the Sunne is now no longer the Marigold of Peru, but groweth in many places with vsus in England. The flower of the Grandille they say (if they say truly) hath the marks of the Passion, Nailes, Pillar, Whippes, Thornes, Wounds, exceeding stigmaticall Francis.
For their Seedes and Graines, Mays is principall, of which they make their bread, which our English ground brings forth, but hardly will ripen: it growes, as it were, on a reed, and multiplieth beyond comparison; they gather three hundred measures for one. It yeeldeth more bloud, but more grosse, then our wheate. They make drinke thereof also, wherewith they will be exceedingly drunke. They first sleepe, and after boile it to that end. In some places they first cause it to be champed with Maids, in some places with olde women, and then make a Leaven thereof, which they boyle, and make this inebriating drinke. The Canes and Leaues serue for their Moles to eate. They boyle and drinke it also for paine in the backe. The buds of Mays serue in fleed of butter and oile.
In some parts they make bread of a great roote called Yuca, which they name Cacavi. They first cut and straine it in a Presse, for the iuyce is deadly poyson: the Cakes dried are sleeped in water before they can eate them. Another kind there is of this Yuca or Iucca, the iuyce whereof is not poyson. It will keepe long, like biscuit. They vse this bread most in Hispaniola, Cuba, and Iamaica, where wheat and Mays wil not grow, but so vnequally, that at one inflant, some is in the grasse, other in the graine. They vse in some places another roote called Papas, like to grownd Nuttes, for bread, which they call Chuno. Of other their roots and fruits I am loath to write, lest I wearie the Reader with tedious officiousnesse. Spices grow not there naturally: Ginger thriueth wel, brought and planted by the Spaniards. They hauehave a good kind of balme, though not the same which grew in Palestina. Of their Amber, Oiles, Gummes, and Drugges I lift not to relate further. Out of Spaine they hauehave carried great varietie of Plants, herein America exceeding Spaine, that it receiueth and fructifieth in all Spanish sSpanish frui…s thriue well in one place or other of the Indies.Plants that are brought thither, whereas the Indian thriue not in Spaine: as Vines, Oliues, Mulberies, Figges, Almonds, Limons, Quinces, and such like. And, to end this Chapter with a comparison of our World with this of America; Our aduantages and preferments are many. tBotero Rel. part. prima li.4.Our Heauen hath more Starres, and greater, as Acosta by his owne sight hath obserued, challenging those Authors, which hauehave written otherwise, of fabling. Our Heauen hath the North starre within three degrees, and a third of the Pole: their Crosier or foure starres set a-crosse, which they obserue for the Antartike, is thirtie degrees off. The Sunne communicates his partiall presence seuen days longer to our Tropike, then to that of Capricorne.
The want of the Sunne and Starres is one cause of greater colde in those parts then in these. Our Earth exceedes theirs for the situation, extending it selfe more betweene East and West (fittest for humane life) whereas theirs trends most towardes the two Poles. Our Sea is more fauourable, in more Gulfes and Bayes, especially such uThe Baltike, Persian, Arabian, Caspian seas, &c.as goe farre within Land, besides the Mid-land Sea, equally communicating her selfe to Asia, Africa, and Europa. This conuenience of Traffique America wanteth. Our Beasts, wilde and tame, are farre the more noble, as the former Discourse sheweth. For what hauehave they to oppose to our Elephants, Rhinocerotes, Camels, Horses, Kine, &c? Neither were the naturall fruits of America comparable to those of our World. Whence are their Spices, and best Fruits, but from hence, by transportation, or transplantation? As for Arts, States, Literature, Diuine and Humane, multitudes of Cities, Lawes, and other Excellencies, our World enioyeth still the priuiledge of the Firstborne. America is a younger brother, and hath in these things almost no inheritance at all, till it bought somewhat hereof of the Spaniards, with the price of her Freedome. On the other side, for temperature of Ayre, generally America is farre before Africa, in the same height. For greatnesse of Riuers, Plata and Maragnon exceede our World. Whether Africa or America exceed in Gold, it is a question: In Siluer, Potozi seemes to hauehave surmounted any one Mine of the World, besides those of new Spaine, and other parts, howsoeuer Boterus doubts. Yet Exitus acta probat. And now America excells, because, besides her owne store, she is so plentifully furnished with all sorts of liuing and growing creatures from hence, as euen now was shewed.